Uzbekistan is considering additional social support measures for vulnerable households, including expanded electricity and natural gas compensation, increased eligibility thresholds and financial assistance for the 2026–2027 autumn and winter season. The proposals were presented during an information session held in Tashkent on October 15 as part of the World Bank's Innovative Carbon Resource Application for Energy Transition Project for Uzbekistan (iCRAFT), which supports energy sector reform.
The event was organized in cooperation with the Center of Green Economy Projects under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the National Agency for Social Protection, the National Agency for Energy Efficiency and the Yuksalish Movement. Representatives of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses and the media attended the session to discuss existing compensation arrangements, proposed social assistance measures and subsidies for energy-efficient technologies.
Madina Azizova, Chief Specialist at the National Agency for Social Protection, presented existing measures to support vulnerable households during energy tariff reforms. According to the information presented, UZS 156.6bn (around $13mn) was allocated to compensation payments in 2025 and the first nine months of 2026, benefiting more than 470,000 families.
Under the current arrangements, eligible households can receive monthly compensation of up to UZS 37,500 (over $3) for electricity and between UZS 135,000 (over $11) and UZS 225,000 (over $18) for natural gas, depending on the season. The session also addressed proposals to expand the coverage of social assistance.
Participants discussed measures aimed at strengthening social protection during the 2026–2027 autumn and winter season. The proposals include providing a one-time payment of UZS 1mn (over $82) to each of 1,017,000 families. Another proposal would increase the income threshold for receiving compensation from the current 1.5 times the minimum consumer expenditure level to twice that level.
The proposed changes would extend social assistance to an additional 166,000 families. Participants also considered extending electricity and natural gas compensation payments until April 1, 2028, and introducing compensation for coal purchases and liquefied gas. For areas with limited or no access to natural gas, a proposal was presented to increase the baseline electricity consumption allowance during the heating season from 200 kWh to 350 kWh.
Obid Ahmedov, Head of Department at the National Agency for Energy Efficiency, presented existing subsidies and financial incentives available to households and businesses. Current support measures provide full reimbursement of the cost of residential energy audits. Households can also receive compensation covering 20% of the cost of solar panels and up to 40% of the cost of heat pumps.
Financial incentives are available to businesses for adopting renewable energy technologies and conducting energy audits. Shohijahon Xurramzoda, Head of Division within the iCRAFT project team, participated in discussions on social support and energy efficiency. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between government agencies, civil society organizations and other stakeholders.
During an open discussion, participants raised questions about existing assistance programs, identified practical difficulties encountered when applying for support and explored opportunities for further cooperation. The session also addressed the need to improve public awareness of government assistance programs, expand access to energy-efficient technologies and strengthen cooperation between government institutions, civil society and businesses.